Valve for steam-heating systems.



, 0.. C. HATCH.

VALVE FOR STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLIOATIONVPILED JUNE 14, 1912.

1, 1 14,609. Patented 001. 20, 1914.

a/z'imeJJeJ 1 Ina/ 22707? 11 077/1776 62 Hdicfi I 1 ORVTLLE CROMWELL. HATCH, OF SEATTIiE, WASHINGTON.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, ORVILLE CROMWELL HATCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of \Vashington, new and useful Improvements. in Valves for Steam-Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The valve ofthe present invention is more particularly designed andTadapted for use 111 controlling the eduction of air and water of condensation from the body of the radiator and preventing the termed inthe trade a -radifier valve.

The objects of the present invention are, to arrange a shield-like member between the inlet from the radiator to the interior of the casing and the float, whereby the water of condensation entering the float chamber will not directly impinge or strike the float; to

i arrange an unrestricted communication with to arrange a pipe or tubular the float chamber at both the upper and lower ends of this shield-like member; to provideathermostatic member for controlling the passage of air out of the interior of the casing andto inclose this thermostatic member in a-suitable housing or casing; and passage leading from a point at approximately the line of flotation of the float to the lower end of the float chamber for thepurpose of conducting oil or flotage which may accumulate 'on the top of the: body of water within thefloat chamber to the lower portion of the float chamber, where it will be drawn off through the discharge passage. f

The invention further consists in" the features of construction and in the combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the drawin Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the va ve of the Fig. 2, a section on line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the 3, a view, partly in section, showing a form of construction in which the pipe forcon-- ducting the oil and flotage is eliminated.

The valve of the present invention is inclosed .within a casing 40f suitable sizea'nd configuration, the interior ofthe casing formin a float chamber as is usual in devices 0 this nature; and the upper end of the casing is closed by means of an ordina ca or closure 5. The lower end of the casing is formed with a nipple-or 6, having an p g t re Specification of Letters Itatent. Application filed. June14, 1912. Serial No. 703,705.

' charge have invented certain,

undue escape. ment of steam, and Is what is commonly.

present invention arrow; and Fig.

. to the top of the float and to a dis:

VALVE FOB STEAM'HEATING SYSTEMS.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

passage leading from the interior of the casing, through which the water of condens'ation is drawn 01f. ilhe walls of the opening -7 are provided with a screw-thread 8, to which is attached the ordinary discharge pipe'of the system. A by-pass 9 is formed in the-nipple 6, which is controlled by a Valve member 10, said by-pass serving t9 permit the v'vithdrawal of any sediment which-may accumulate in the extreme lower part of the float chamber, whereby the valve can be readily-and quickly cleaned. A nipple or' connection 11 is provided, which Y adapted to be attached, by a suitable coupling nut 11", to the casing of the valve; and this nipple is provided with a passage 12,

which constitutes an" inlet passage to the ini terior of the casing 4. A-float 13, of'suitable .size and configuration, is located within the casing 4; and interposed between this float and the inlet passage 12 is a wall or shield 14, which, in the form illustrated in. the drawings, consists of a web-like member (clearly shown in Fig: 2) .castwith the walls of the casing. The Web-like member is spaced away from the walls of the casing for the major portion of its width to provide a passage 15 for water of condensation. 1

It will be seen from a study of'Fig. 1 that the openings at the upper and lower ends of this Wall, which permit the entrance of water of condensation into the float chamber, are entirely unrestricted; that is, there is a perfectly free passage for water and air from the inlet 12-t0 thefloatchamber. By this arrangement, the water of condensation coming into the interior of the casing is prevented from'direct im ingement against the float, which is undesirable, because of the fact that it tends to wab'ble and disturb the regular movements of the float. .Also, the unrestricted communication with the float chamber which is provided by this arrangement allows any agitation from'a slug 0}]:

water, or water hammer, to ass in directions into. the. float cha her; that ,is

1 he bottom of the'float, so that no. disturb he of the float ia'created-by an undue passage ordischarge of air or water into the float chamber. t will be readily understood that, if the pas sage to the float chamber is restricted either at the top or bottom, or both, any happen:

mg or occurrence which would create a eater than normal passage of air or water mto the float chamber would cause the float this member that the air communication between thereinto.

The valve member 17 seats,

if allowed to remain too long will accuto vibrate or shake, giving to the same an.

abnormal and undesirable movement.

The float13 is provided with an upper tubular member 16 and member 17. The upper tubular member, in the form shown, is in the shape of a bent tube and constitutes what. may be termed the air induction member, since .it is through from the float chamber passes into the hollow interior of the float 13. In order to control the passage through this induction member, so that, after the air has been exhausted from the radiatorgsteam will not be allowed to pass out through the escapement means provided for the air, a thermostatic member 17 is provided which, in the formshown, consists of a bourdon spring having its free end 18 arranged to close the opens end of the air induction member when said thermostatic member is subjected to the influence of heat. By this arrangement, when the steam enters the radiator the air discharged therefrom will have a free entrance into the interior of the float 13,.but after the air as been exhausted and steam begins to enter the float chamber the heat of the steam will bend the thermostatic member 17 so that the free end of it will cover the open end of the air induction member and cut off the interior of the float and the float chamber.

' A housing 18 is provided for the thermostatic member, which is in the shapt of a cap or cover afiixed to the upper end of the float and provided with a series of openings 19 to permit the entrance of air and steam Attachedto the lowerend of the float, as previously stated, is a tubular mem-- ber 17, which constitutes a valve for controlling the flow of water of condensation through the discharge passage. This member 17 is provided with a passage 20, where by air conducted intothe hollow float will be educted therefrom through this passage and into the discharge passage of the system. as shown, within a plug 21 screw-threaded into the nipple or boss6, and this plug is provided with a se ries of openings or passages 22, which communicate with the discharge passage.

In the operation of valves of this charac ter, it frequently happens that a mass ofoil' and fiotage will collect upon the top of the water of condensation, and this oil or flotage mlilate in such quantities as to interferewith the movements of the float. .To provide for the eduction of this oil and flotage from the float chamber,-T have illustrated a means, which consists of a tubular passage 23 65; mately the line of flotation 0 "formed in the wall of the casing, which passage has one open end 24 in communication with the float chamber at a oint approxi- .the float. and

a lower tubular .and is only care of the oil and flotagc,

has its other end 25 in communication with the float chamber at the lower end of said chamber. By this arrangement, the oil or flotage on top of the water of condensation within the float chamber will be educted through this tubular passage 23 and brought to the lower part of the float chamber, where it will be carried off through the discharge passage. It is understood that this tubular passage is of a relatively restricted nature designed and adapted to take and is not designed nor intended to carry off any appreciable portion of the water of condensation, this water of condensation passing out directly through the passages 22 in the plug 21 and into the discharge passage 7.

The operation will be clearly understood from the foregoing, but briefly is as follows: When the water of condensation enters the interior of the caslng through the inlet 12, it will pass around the shield or.

web 14 and enter the float chamber. After ithas accumulated in the float chamber to a suficient height, the float will rise, unseating the tubular valve member 17 and allowing'the water of condensation to be drawn out through the passages 22 into the discharge passage 7 When steam is first admitted to the radiator, the air discharged therefrom will flow out through the passage provided by the air inlet 16, the float 13, and tubular valve member 17. The entrance of steam into the casing following the flow of air therethrough actuates the thermostatic member 17 a to opening and prevent the further discharge of air. As the water rises and sinks around the upper end 24: of the tubular passage 23, the oil or flotage will be conducted through said pipe to the lower portion of the float chamber when water is being educted through the passage 22 and discharged.

Iclaim:

1.. In a valve of the class described the combination of a casing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage therein, a float within passage of air therethrough, a tubular member arranged on the top of the float for the induction ofair into the float, a hollow valve plug at the bottom of the float for controlling the outlet passage and for establishing. communication between the 1nterior of the float and the outlet passage, a thermostatic member adapted to control the outer open end of said top tubular member,

and a housing for said thermostatic member carried by and movable with the float and acting in conjunction withthe inner wall of the upper portion of the casing as a guidingmeans for the upper end of the float, substantially as described.

2. In a valve of the class described the combination of a casing having an mlet the casing arranged to permit close the air induction 10 a guiding float,, su stantially as described.

passage and an outlet passage therein; float within the casing outlet passage, means for conducting air;

for governing the through the. float to the outlet passage, a thermostatic member for controlling the passage of air throughthe float, and a housi .ing for said thermostatic member carried by the float and acting 1n conjunction with the inner 'wall of the upper end of the casing as means for the upper end ofthe 3. In a valve of the class described the combination of a casing having an inlet ;member at the to floatya tubular member atvthe lower end of elbowedtu ,the. top of said-tubular member to position .itsfree end [in operative relation to the an elbow sha ed tubular the v the float forming'the air induction member and serving as-a valve' for controlling the outlet passage, a bowed thermostatic memj berhavin one end secured adjacent said ular member and extendingoveropen outerend of said tubular member and. a housing for said thermostatic membercarried by the float and serving in conjunction with the inner wall of the upper portion of the casing as a guiding means for the upper" end of the float, substantially as described.

ORVILLE CROMW ELL HATCH. Witnesses: Y EUGENE A., CHILD,- I Srmma Caro. 

